A TWO-PART special of 24 Hours in Police Custody will document the murders of Adam Fanelli and Patrick Howard.
The Channel 4 programme will follow the police investigation into what happened to Adam Fanelli and Patrick Howard in November 2022.
The programme will follow the police investigation into what happened to Adam Fanelli and Patrick Howard
What happened to Adam Fanelli and Patrick Howard?
In November 2022, Adam Fanelli, 39, and Patrick Howard, 27, died from injuries after being attacked in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire.
Adam Fanelli was fatally stabbed, while Patrick Howard, was paralysed from a stab wound and dragged by a car along a road on November 13, 2022.
A brief altercation in a pub sparked the incident which spilled out into the streets, with three victims stabbed multiple times.
Two men, Nicholas Papworth and Anthony Bennison, stabbed and ran over their victims during 27 seconds of “carnage” in Houghton Regis, leaving Adam Fanelli and Patrick Howard dead and a third man seriously injured.
According to Bedfordshire Police, ”Mr Fanelli had only left his home to check what was happening, having told his mum he would be back in a minute”.
Injured, Mr Fanelli fled the scene but collapsed in a nearby driveway, where he was later found dead.
Both Papworth and Bennison were arrested in the days following the incident.
Following the attack, Papworth and Bennison were found guilty of 12 offences including murder and attempted murder, following an eight-week trial at Luton Crown Court.
Anthony Bennison was convicted of two counts of murder while Nicholas Papworth was cleared over Mr Fanelli’s death, but found guilty of murdering Mr Howard.
During the sentencing, His Honour Judge Michael Simon said Mr Fanelli and Mr Howard’s lives had been “brutally cut short” by the attack.
He added: ”Nothing this court can do will fill the cavernous void in the hearts of the victims’ loved ones.
”The events between 1am and 1.10am can only be described in one word – carnage.
“The evening started by celebrating new life and ended in mourning and disbelief at the unspeakable and shocking violence.”
Robbie Weber, a Senior Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “No words can describe the sheer level of violence Anthony Bennison and Nicholas Papworth inflicted on their victims.
“Their senseless actions have left two men, Patrick Howard and Adam Fanelli dead, and a third man with very serious injuries.
“The actions of Bennison and Papworth have left the families and friends of the victims devastated, and a community at a loss as to how something like this could have happened.
”Neither Bennison nor Papworth took any responsibility for their actions, placing blame on others and attempting to cover up their crimes.
”Thanks to the hard work of the Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Police Major Crime Unit in their painstaking investigation, and the prosecution team in building the strongest possible case, a jury found both men guilty and see the court sentence them today.
”I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Patrick Howard and Adam Fanelli who feel the loss of their loved ones so keenly. I hope the convictions and today’s sentences will bring some solace to them.”
Who was Adam Fanelli?
Following the attack, tributes poured in for 39-year-old father-of-three, Adam Fanelli.
In a tribute, Adam’s family said: “Words could never explain the impact this tragedy has had, and will forever hold, over our family and this community.
“Our thoughts and prayers of strength are with the other families involved.
“Adam was undoubtedly a loving and devoted dad to his three wonderful children. For someone small in stature he had an extremely larger than life character and a heart bigger than a house.
“He was a person that emulated ‘once met never forgotten’ in every way possible. He’s going to be missed eternally, leaving a void that could never be filled.
“The family would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and beautiful tributes to both Adam and Pat.”
Who was Patrick Howard?
Also paying tribute, the family of 27-year-old Patrick said: “Patrick was the most lovable, cheeky chap you could meet.
“He would have done anything for anybody and had the biggest heart of gold.
“He was the heart and soul of the community, with not a person who didn’t love him.
“Patrick will be missed immensely and has left such a hole in too many hearts. If love could have saved Patrick, he would have lived forever.
“Adam’s family will forever be in our hearts and prayers.”
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